Leg brace for stilts

ABSTRACT

A plastic leg brace element for construction stilts is disclosed. The leg brace element comprises a plastic body. The plastic body defines a generally semi-cylindrical concave inside surface for supporting a stilt user&#39;s leg, and a passage spaced apart from the generally semi-cylindrical concave inside surface for receiving a leg support of the stilt.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an improved leg brace for a stilt, particularlystilts employed in the construction industry to facilitate overheadwork, such as accessing and hanging suspended ceiling structures oroverhead electrical or duct work.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,515, the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein, is an example of one type of stilt employed by theconstruction industry. It utilizes a single upright post extending abovethe shoe platform and having a calf brace near the upper end to providestability to the user. The calf brace attaches to the side of the postand is solely dependent on the retention of the fasteners for safety.

The calf brace in this disclosure is constructed of metal and isexpensive to produce. A calf brace that could be produced in one stepwould be less labor intensive and less expensive.

Also, metallic calf braces are subject to fatigue cracks over time, andare not easy to straighten if bent by accident or abuse. Constructingthe braces out of a material that resists fatigue and damage wouldenhance their durability.

Also, the calf brace in both of these disclosures presents an inherentsafety hazard during falls because of its metallic construction. A braceconstruction less likely to result in a cut during a fall would be verydesirable.

Further, additional redundancy against failure of the stilt due to lossof the brace retaining bolts would be desirable.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an improved leg brace for astilt that, in preferred embodiments, overcomes the above noteddeficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention is provided in the form of anon-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt. The leg braceelement comprises a plastic body. The plastic body defines a generallysemi-cylindrical concave inside surface for supporting a stilt user'sleg, and a passage spaced apart from the generally semi-cylindricalconcave inside surface for receiving a leg support of the stilt.

Prior art stilt leg braces were formed of metal from expensive extrusionand bending processes. They were subject to metal fatigue, stresscracking, and possible failure when in use. They were also lacking incomfort for the user, sharp edged and heavy, and presented an additionalinjury hazard for users during falls. The inventive stilt leg brace ischeaper to produce, more durable, more comfortable, and safer thanmetallic stilt leg braces according to the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a pair of calf braces constructedaccording to one embodiment of the invention from an upper perspective.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of one of calf braces shown in FIG. 1from a lower perspective.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial illustration of a calf brace as shown in FIG. 1from an additional perspective.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial illustration of a stilt fitted with a calf braceaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a non-metallic unitaryleg brace element 2 for a stilt. The leg brace element comprises aplastic body. The plastic body defines a generally semi-cylindricalconcave inside surface 4 for supporting a stilt user's leg, and apassage 6 spaced apart from the generally semi-cylindrical concaveinside surface for receiving a leg support of the stilt.

A wide range of plastic material is suitable for construction of thebrace element 2. For cost and speed of production, a thermoplastic wouldbe preferred. For strength, a fiber reinforced thermoplastic would bepreferred. For durability, an engineering thermoplastic would bepreferred. Short glass fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is asuitable material, for example. The brace element 2 is preferablyproduced by an injection molding process.

The generally semi-cylindrical concave inside surface is positionedaround a longitudinal axis 8. A longitudinal axis 10 of the passage isgenerally parallel to the longitudinal axis 8.

The brace element can be described as comprising a first portion 12 anda second portion 14. The portion is a generally saddle-shaped structurehaving an inner surface which defines the generally cylindrical insidesurface and an outer surface 16. The second portion protrudes from theouter surface of the first portion and is longitudinally elongated anddefines the passage.

The second portion is positioned between first half of the outer surfaceof the first portion and a second half of the outer surface of the firstportion. The outer surface of the first portion has an upper end and alower end. The second portion preferably comprises an upper ear element18 protruding from the upper end of the outer surface of the firstportion, and a lower ear element 20 protruding from the lower end of theouter surface of the first portion. A tubular element 22 extends betweenthe upper ear element and the lower ear element and defines a portion ofthe passage. Preferably, an upper end of the passage is closed by aportion 24 of the upper ear element.

The passage is preferably configured to closely accept the upper end ofthe stilt upright on which it will be positioned. A circular crosssection is preferred for uprights constructed of round tubing.

The second portion preferably further defines at least one transverseborehole 26 in communication with the passage suitable for receiving afastener to fasten the non-metallic unitary leg brace element to a stiltleg support received by the passage. Pins fitted with a retention deviceor bolts with nuts and a locking mechanism would be suitable. In theillustrated embodiment, the upper ear defines a first transverseborehole and the lower ear defines a second transverse borehole. Each ofthe boreholes is in communication with the passage and is suitable forreceiving a fastener to fasten the non-metallic unitary leg braceelement to a stilt leg support received by the passage.

Preferably, the first portion further defines outwardly protrudingreinforcing bands extending circumferentially from the upper ear and thelower ear. In the illustrated embodiment, an upper band 28 is positionedadjacent to the upper end of the outer surface of the first portion anda lower band 30 is positioned adjacent to the lower end of the outersurface of the first portion. The first portion has a first lateral end32 and a second lateral end 34 and further defines a first bridgestructure 36 connecting the upper band to the lower band near the firstlateral end and a second bridge structure 38 connecting the upper bandto the lower band near the second lateral end. The tubular element isspaced apart from the outer surface of the first portion to define apassage 40. The brace element defines a location for receipt of a usersafety strap 42 between the upper and lower reinforcing bands andextending between the tubular element and the first and second bridgestructures and the outer surface of the first portion. A layer 44 ofcushioning is further positioned on the generally cylindrical insidesurface in the preferred embodiment. Foam fastened with adhesive issuitable.

FIG. 4 illustrates the invention as can be deployed on a stilt 46 of thegeneral type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,515. The stilt comprises afloor platform 48 and a shoe platform 50. A pair of substantiallyvertically mounted supports 52, 54 pivotally connect the floor platformand the shoe platform. The vertical supports are spring-biased so as tomaintain the vertical supports and the platforms in a parallelogramconfiguration. A leg support 56 is mounted to one of the verticallymounted supports and extends upwardly above the shoe platform. The legsupport has an upper end section 58. The upper end section of the legsupport is retained in the passage of the unitary leg brace element 2 insuperposition with respect to the shoe platform. A user safety strap canbe received in the location defined for receipt of a user safety strap.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedherein, the invention is not to be construed as being so limited, exceptto the extent that such limitations are found in the claims.

1. A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt, said leg braceelement comprising a plastic body defining a generally semi-cylindricalconcave inside surface for supporting a stilt user's leg, and a passagespaced apart from the generally semi-cylindrical concave inside surfacefor receiving a leg support of the stilt, wherein the generallysemi-cylindrical concave inside surface is positioned around alongitudinal axis, and the passage is generally parallel to saidlongitudinal axis, wherein the leg brace element comprises a firstportion and a second portion, the first portion being a generallysaddle-shaped structure having an inner surface and an outer surface,the inner surface defining the generally cylindrical inside surface, thesecond portion protruding from the outer surface of the first portionand being longitudinally elongated and defining the passage wherein thesecond portion is positioned between a first half of the outer surfaceof the first portion and a second half of the outer surface of the firstportion wherein the outer surface of the first portion has an upper endand a lower end, and the second portion comprises an upper ear elementprotruding from the upper end of the outer surface of the first portion,a lower ear element protruding from the lower end of the outer surfaceof the first portion, and a tubular element extending between the upperear element and the lower ear element and defining a portion of thepassage.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. Anon-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in claim 1 whereinan upper end of the passage is closed by a portion of the upper earelement.
 7. A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as inclaim 6 wherein the second portion further defines at least onetransverse borehole in communication with the passage suitable forreceiving a fastener to fasten the non-metallic unitary leg braceelement to a stilt leg support received by the passage.
 8. Anon-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in claim 7 whereinthe upper ear defines a first transverse borehole and the lower eardefines a second transverse borehole, each borehole being incommunication with the passage and suitable for receiving a pin tofasten the non-metallic unitary leg brace element to a stilt leg supportreceived by the passage.
 9. A non-metallic unitary leg brace element fora stilt as in claim 8 wherein the first portion further definesoutwardly protruding reinforcing bands extending circumferentially fromthe upper ear and the lower ear.
 10. A non-metallic unitary leg braceelement for a stilt as in claim 9 wherein the first portion defines anupper band is positioned adjacent to the upper end of the outer surfaceof the first portion, and a lower band is positioned adjacent to thelower end of the outer surface of the first portion.
 11. A non-metallicunitary leg brace element for a stilt as in claim 10 wherein the firstportion has a first lateral end and a second lateral end and furtherdefines a first bridge structure connecting the upper band to the lowerband near the first lateral end and a second bridge structure connectingthe upper band to the lower band near the second lateral end.
 12. Anon-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in claim 11wherein the tubular element is spaced apart from the outer surface ofthe first portion to define a location for receipt of a user safetystrap between the tubular element and the outer surface of the firstportion.
 13. A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as inclaim 7 further comprising, in combination, a layer of cushioningpositioned on the generally cylindrical inside surface.
 14. Anon-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in claim 7 furthercomprising, in combination, a floor platform, a shoe platform, a pair ofsubstantially vertically mounted supports pivotally connecting saidfloor platform and said shoe platform, said vertical supportsspring-biased so as to maintain said vertical supports and saidplatforms in a parallelogram configuration, and a leg support mounted toone of said vertically mounted supports and extending upwardly abovesaid shoe platform, said leg support having an upper end section,wherein the upper end section of said leg support is retained in thepassage of the unitary leg brace element in superposition with respectto the shoe platform.
 15. A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for astilt as in claim 12 further comprising, in combination, a floorplatform, a shoe platform, a pair of substantially vertically mountedsupports pivotally connecting said floor platform and said shoeplatform, said vertical supports spring-biased so as to maintain saidvertical supports and said platforms in a parallelogram configuration, aleg support mounted to one of said vertically mounted supports andextending upwardly above said shoe platform, said leg support having anupper end section, wherein the upper end section of said leg support isretained in the passage of the unitary leg brace element insuperposition with respect to the shoe platform, and a user safety strapreceived in the location defined for receipt of a user safety strap.